US Women's Olympic Soccer Team Headed for Gold

The Women's US Olympic Soccer Team has appeared in every final since women's football entered the Games in 1996. That's a lot of pressure! But now some of it is off: The team is on course for a fourth gold after overcoming Canada in a sensational semi-final. Of course it's teamwork, buch of the success that put them over can be attributed to Megan Rapinoe, who we profiled in our August issue.

According the Guardian: "Four minutes later the USA equalised when Rapinoe collected a cross-field pass on the corner of the penalty area and struck a superb shot in off the far post.Within two minutes Canada were ahead again, courtesy of an outstanding header from Sinclair from a corner. Then [Abby] Wambach scored from the spot before Morgan delivered the final word."

With the US Women's team being so successful it can be stressful. We asked Megan Rapinoe about that, and as she explained:

"I think there's a lot of pressure on. We've medaled at every Olympics, ever World Cup. At every major championship, we've medaled in. I don't think anybody else has done that. our team has historically been so successful. We know that and care about it. For me, that's a good thing, that's not a bad pressure, to be on one of the best teams in the world. That's such a cool thing that we're a part. of. But I think we do feel the pressure. We know that all eyes are on us. We're highly scrutinized. Especially now, with the amount of media attention we get, the higher profiles on our team, the social media and everything. We are highly scrutinized. People are going to nitpick at us. I think that's part of becoming more popular and being one of the best teams."

At the same time, Megan knows how to have a great time.

Check out the great celebratory shot of Alex Morgan and Rapinoe here. As she told us: "I am comfortable in the spotlight. I definitely am. I think that's something that you either are or you aren't. As I've gotten older, and gotten to know myself better and more in control of myself, I realize that I'm charismatic, I like to laugh, I like to make other people laugh. That's something really important to me, to have fun, always. This game and this life is too serious to not just totally mess around."